The document discusses ways to improve spraying efficiency and reduce drift. It recommends slowing down spraying speeds to reduce drift and improve on-target coverage. Other suggestions include lowering boom heights, using smaller nozzle sizes, and implementing continuous rinsing systems to more thoroughly clean sprayers. Faster filling, improved boom suspension, and timed operational steps are also presented as methods to potentially claw back time on spraying activities. The overall message is that slowing down can allow for better coverage while finding other efficiencies to make up for lost time.

1. Go slower. Spray
more.Tom Wolf1 & Jason Deveau2
1 Agrimetrix Research & Training, Saskatoon
2 OMAFRA Application Tech. Specialist, Simcoe

2. • High travel speeds increase drift potential.

3. • High travel speeds increase drift potential.
WAKE + TURBULENCE

4. • Tom was told this guy was traveling >25 k/hr!

5. • We were told this guy was traveling >25 k/hr!
• No one would really do this… right?

6. 0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Med Coarse Fine Med X. Coarse
XR80-03 AIXR110-025 XR110-04 XR110-05 DR110-05
On-swathdeposit(%ofapplied)
• If it’s drifting, then it’s not on target.

7. 0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Med Coarse Fine Med X. Coarse
XR80-03 AIXR110-025 XR110-04 XR110-05 DR110-05
On-swathdeposit(%ofapplied)
Low boom
Slow speed
High boom
Fast speed
• If it’s drifting, then it’s not on target.

8. 0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Med Coarse Fine Med X. Coarse
XR80-03 AIXR110-025 XR110-04 XR110-05 DR110-05
On-swathdeposit(%ofapplied)
Low boom
Slow speed
High boom
Fast speed
• If it’s drifting, then it’s not on target.
• Lower boom and slower speed can mean >10%
more on-swath. Even with smaller droplets!

9. • Can we counter high speeds and high booms
with larger droplets?

10. Field Sprayer
Travel speed 13.0 km/h, Application volume 100 L/ha
Wind speed (km/h)
0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32
AirbornedriftAt5m(%ofemitted)
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
4.0
4.5
5.0
XR8003
y = -0.85 + 0.18 x
r
2
= 0.79
AI110025
y = -0.16 + 0.04 x
r
2
= 0.72
30” Boom height at 14 mph vs. 20” and 8 mph

11. Field Sprayer
Travel speed 13.0 km/h, Application volume 100 L/ha
Wind speed (km/h)
0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32
AirbornedriftAt5m(%ofemitted)
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
4.0
4.5
5.0
XR8003
y = -0.85 + 0.18 x
r
2
= 0.79
AI110025
y = -0.16 + 0.04 x
r
2
= 0.72
30” Boom height at 14 mph vs. 20” and 8 mph

12. Field Sprayer
Travel speed 13.0 km/h, Application volume 100 L/ha
Wind speed (km/h)
0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32
AirbornedriftAt5m(%ofemitted)
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
4.0
4.5
5.0
XR8003
y = -0.85 + 0.18 x
r
2
= 0.79
AI110025
y = -0.16 + 0.04 x
r
2
= 0.72
30” Boom height at 14 mph vs. 20” and 8 mph

13. Field Sprayer
Travel speed 13.0 km/h, Application volume 100 L/ha
Wind speed (km/h)
0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32
AirbornedriftAt5m(%ofemitted)
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
4.0
4.5
5.0
XR8003
y = -0.85 + 0.18 x
r
2
= 0.79
AI110025
y = -0.16 + 0.04 x
r
2
= 0.72
30” Boom height at 14 mph vs. 20” and 8 mph
AI gives
2-fold drift
reduction

14. Field Sprayer
Travel speed 13.0 km/h, Application volume 100 L/ha
Wind speed (km/h)
0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32
AirbornedriftAt5m(%ofemitted)
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
4.0
4.5
5.0
XR8003
y = -0.85 + 0.18 x
r
2
= 0.79
AI110025
y = -0.16 + 0.04 x
r
2
= 0.72
30” Boom height at 14 mph vs. 20” and 8 mph
AI gives
2-fold drift
reduction

15. Field Sprayer
Travel speed 13.0 km/h, Application volume 100 L/ha
Wind speed (km/h)
0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32
AirbornedriftAt5m(%ofemitted)
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
4.0
4.5
5.0
XR8003
y = -0.85 + 0.18 x
r
2
= 0.79
AI110025
y = -0.16 + 0.04 x
r
2
= 0.72
30” Boom height at 14 mph vs. 20” and 8 mph
AI gives
2-fold drift
reduction
Add lower
boom and
slower
speed for
4-fold
reduction

16. The “perfect” level boom shot… impossible?
Higher travel speeds make the
boom pitch and yaw.

17. The “perfect” level boom shot… impossible?
Higher travel speeds make the
boom pitch and yaw.

19. • Boom
height is
also critical
when using
dual fans
on wheat
heads.

20. Boom Height - Wheat
54
37
59 59
38
36
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
20 in 30 in
Wheat
Spraydeposit(%ofapplied)
1-Upper 2-Mid 3-LowerPenultimateFlagHead
Boom height vs. coverage in wheat
20 inch 30 inch
Distance to target

21. Boom Height - Wheat
54
37
59 59
38
36
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
20 in 30 in
Wheat
Spraydeposit(%ofapplied)
1-Upper 2-Mid 3-LowerPenultimateFlagHead
Boom height vs. coverage in wheat
~20% Improvement
20 inch 30 inch
Distance to target

22. So slow down to reduce
drift and improve
coverage.

23. So slow down to reduce
drift and improve
coverage.
Should we lobby government
to add 4 hours to each day?

24. So slow down to reduce
drift and improve
coverage.
Should we lobby government
to add 4 hours to each day?
Maybe there’s time left on the plate
that we can claw back…

25. Idling
33%
Transport
22%
Spraying
45%
ENGINE HOURS
JD Link: 8 R4045
(450 engine hr/yr average)
151 h
97 h
203 h

26. So, what can we
do differently?

27. www.sprayers101.com

28. Let’s collect some
numbers…

29. 1 - Fill Efficiency
The easiest path to efficiency gain

32. Go to www.sprayers101.com
and type “nurse” in Search bar

33. Go to www.sprayers101.com
and type “nurse” in Search bar

34. Faster fill with a
3” pump

39. Photo: Landon Friesen (@Landon707)

40. 2 - Sprayer
CleanoutThe most mysterious sprayer activity

41. Let’s define some terms:

42. Let’s define some terms:
Cleaning: Total decontamination
performed when changing chemicals,
moving into sensitive crops, and at
the end of every spray day.

43. Let’s define some terms:
Cleaning: Total decontamination
performed when changing chemicals,
moving into sensitive crops, and at
the end of every spray day.
Requires the use of a detergent and
any label-required additive.

44. Let’s define some terms:
Cleaning: Total decontamination
performed when changing chemicals,
moving into sensitive crops, and at
the end of every spray day.
Requires the use of a detergent and
any label-required additive.
Requires the operator to address
filters and dead-end plumbing areas.

45. • There are lots of places for
residue to hide…

46. Research has shown that sprayers can
retain 10-15% of the original
concentration in
empty/fill valves, boom ends & filters...
P.G. Anderson et al. 2010
…while rinsate still measured
only 1-2% at the nozzle.

47. Hypro’s ExpressTM Nozzle Endcap

48. Hypro’s ExpressTM Nozzle Endcap
• Eliminates
section-ends.

49. Hypro’s ExpressTM Nozzle Endcap
• Eliminates
section-ends.
• Faster stops
and starts.

50. Hypro’s ExpressTM Nozzle Endcap
• Eliminates
section-ends.
• Faster stops
and starts.
• Some question
of build up
(calypso) but
may have
valves in
future.

51. • Adding valves and
90˚ bends works.

52. Rinsing: Dilutes residual spray mix,
but does not address dead-end
plumbing.

53. Rinsing: Dilutes residual spray mix,
but does not address dead-end
plumbing.
Should be performed every few loads,
when moving empty sprayer between
fields, and at minimum if the
operator has (unwisely) decided not
to fully clean the sprayer at the end
of the day.

54. The power of dilution

55. The power of dilution
Dilution Factor = Rinse volume + Remaining spray mix
Remaining spray mix

56. The power of dilution
Dilution Factor = Rinse volume + Remaining spray mix
Remaining spray mix
• A single rinse of 150 gal. to 20 gal.
leftover mix: Dilution factor of 8.5.

57. The power of dilution
Dilution Factor = Rinse volume + Remaining spray mix
Remaining spray mix
• A single rinse of 150 gal. to 20 gal.
leftover mix: Dilution factor of 8.5.
• But, serial dilution means 50 gal. to
20 gal. leftover, three times: Dilution
factor of 3.5 x 3.5 x 3.5 = 43!

58. Photo source Monsanto demo plots: Chatham, Ontario
• Here are serial
dilution rinses,
sprayed on
conventional
soybeans

59. Photo source Monsanto demo plots: Chatham, Ontario
• Here are serial
dilution rinses,
sprayed on
conventional
soybeans

60. Photo source Monsanto demo plots: Chatham, Ontario
• Here are serial
dilution rinses,
sprayed on
conventional
soybeans

61. Photo source Monsanto demo plots: Chatham, Ontario
• Here are serial
dilution rinses,
sprayed on
conventional
soybeans

62. • No clean water tank? Add one!

65. Continuous Rinsing

66. • Europe has adopted a different way
to rinse.
Continuous Rinsing

67. • Europe has adopted a different way
to rinse.
• By adding a small dedicated pump,
clean water moves directly to the
rinse nozzles while the main pump
sprays the rinsate.
Continuous Rinsing

68. 1. Minimize remainder (accurate
mixing).

69. 1. Minimize remainder (accurate
mixing).
2. Engage rinse pump as pressure
drops (in field).

70. 1. Minimize remainder (accurate
mixing).
2. Engage rinse pump as pressure
drops (in field).
3. Let it build up a bit, then drive and
spray.

71. 1. Minimize remainder (accurate
mixing).
2. Engage rinse pump as pressure
drops (in field).
3. Let it build up a bit, then drive and
spray.
4. Ensure pump capacity slightly less
than boom rate (air bubbles help).

72. 1. Minimize remainder (accurate
mixing).
2. Engage rinse pump as pressure
drops (in field).
3. Let it build up a bit, then drive and
spray.
4. Ensure pump capacity slightly less
than boom rate (air bubbles help).
5. Spray until empty.

73. Research in Europe showed
continuous rinsing reduced residue at
the nozzle to 2% in far less time,
without the operator leaving the cab.

74. Working with HJV, we modified a
RoGator 700 for Canada’s Outdoor
Farm Show in 2016.

75. 1 - From fresh water tank via
existing lines to a manifold…

76. 1 - From fresh water tank via
existing lines to a manifold…
2 – …into two, 7.5 gpm (@50 psi)
electrical roller pumps…

77. 1 - From fresh water tank via
existing lines to a manifold…
2 – …into two, 7.5 gpm (@50 psi)
electrical roller pumps…
3 - …through backflow prevention valves…

78. 1 - From fresh water tank via
existing lines to a manifold…
2 – …into two, 7.5 gpm (@50 psi)
electrical roller pumps…
3 - …through backflow prevention valves… 4 - …teed into the existing rinse system.

79. Clean
Water
Tank
Boom
Main
Pump
Rinse
Pump
Sample Testing

82. …it’s only a
model.
Remember

83. • The biggest result here is that it
took <1/3 of the time vs. 3x
rinsing… never leaving the cab.

84. • The biggest result here is that it
took <1/3 of the time vs. 3x
rinsing… never leaving the cab.
• That translates to ~10 minutes
versus 30-40.

85. • The biggest result here is that it
took <1/3 of the time vs. 3x
rinsing… never leaving the cab.
• That translates to ~10 minutes
versus 30-40.
• Perhaps if detergent (or ammonia)
was added to the clean rinse tank,
it might be better still… we’ll
explore it this summer.

86. 3 - Booms
The most poorly-designed sprayer part?

87. Aluminum
Carbon Fibre

88. Better Suspension

89. NOW! With faster fills,
more efficient cleaning
and longer booms, our
new productivity is
greatly improved!
Even if we slow down.

90. Time your operation step-by-step.
Don’t guess!

91. Time your operation step-by-step.
Don’t guess!
Then, make a change
and measure the impact.

92. Tom Wolf
@nozzle_guy
Jason Deveau
@spray_guy
Learn more about spraying
www.sprayers101.com